Explore a rich collection of educational resources designed to deepen your understanding of NC811 and the importance of safe digging. Share these tools to help others recognize the critical role of preventing underground utility damage—and take action today to promote safety in your community!
North Carolina 811 offers free training programs designed to educate excavators, contractors, utility professionals, and the public on safe digging practices, damage prevention, and the proper use of the 811 notification system before excavation projects begin. The training includes interactive online courses, on-site learning opportunities, and resources covering utility locating, excavation best practices, underground facility protection, and compliance with North Carolina safe digging requirements.
As part of NC811's Dig Safe Discovery experience, the Safe Digging Express mobile trailer offers an engaging, hands-on opportunity to learn about safe digging practices across North Carolina. The adventure continues with the Mini-Ex Fun Dig, featuring a mini backhoe. This unique attraction gives both children and adults the chance to experience the excitement of excavation firsthand while digging through a colorful ball pit. Combining education and entertainment, these interactive exhibits help bring safe digging awareness to life for visitors of all ages.
Explore the reach of the 811 message across North Carolina with our interactive map. Discover billboard locations by year, view above-ground storage tank installations, and stay tuned for future additions. Easily navigate through map categories using the menu panel, customize your view by showing or hiding markers, and expand listings for detailed information. Many locations include photos and videos to provide a closer look.
Steven Moore Media Relations Specialist Office: 336-855-5760 Cell: 336-382-4109 email: smoore@nc811.org
ADOPT UNIFORM COLOR CODE The American Public Works Association encourages public agencies, utilities, contractors, other associations, manufacturers and all others involved in excavation to adopt the APWA Uniform Color Code, using ANSI standard Z535.1 Safety Colors for temporary marking and facility identification.
PROPOSED EXCAVATION Use white marks to show the location, route or boundary of proposed excavation. Surface marks on roadways do not exceed 1.5″ by 18″ (40 mm by 450 mm). The facility color and facility owner identity may be added to white flags or stakes.
USE OF TEMPORARY MARKING Use color-coded surface marks (i.e., paint or chalk) to indicate the location or route of active and out-of-service buried lines. To increase visibility, color coded vertical markers (i.e., stakes or flags) should supplement surface marks. Marks and markers indicate the name, initials or logo of the company that owns or operates the line, and width of the facility if it is greater than 2″ (50 mm). Marks placed by other than line owner/operator or its agent indicate the identity of the designating firm. Multiple lines in joint trench are marked in tandem. If the surface over the buried line is to be removed, supplementary offset markings are used. Offset markings are on a uniform alignment and clearly indicate the actual facility is a specific distance away.
TOLERANCE ZONE Any excavation within the tolerance zone is performed with non-powered hand tools or non-invasive method until the marked facility is exposed. In North Carolina the tolerance zone is 24″ on either side of the marked facility.
In North Carolina there are several types of tickets. Let’s look at each ticket in-depth.
Normal A normal ticket is requested when any excavation and/or demolition is planned. This is the standard type of ticket used and requires a 3 full working day notice.
Retransmit Until a ticket expires it may be resent to one or more of the members originally notified. The excavator may request to notify additional members, add more directions or contact numbers, or state that lines have not been marked correctly. Should a new facility member be added, they have 3 full working days to respond. For more on retransmit requests click here
Update In the event the excavation and/or demolition activities continue beyond the 28 calendar days (life of the notice), the excavator will need to update the notice per NC General Statutes. Updates can be requested no later than 3 working days prior to the expiration of the ticket. Changes cannot be made to an update notification. Should changes occur, a new notice will need to be processed.
Emergency Emergency excavation or demolition notifications from excavators are accepted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are transmitted immediately to the member operator. NC General Statues 87-117 (8) define emergency as “an event involving a clear and imminent danger to life, health, or property, the interruption of essential utility services, or the blockage of transportation facilities, including highways, railways, waterways, or airways that require immediate action.” Excavators falsely claiming an emergency exists may be subjected to the Underground Damage Prevention Review Board. False claims shall be punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor to include other penalties and/or action taken by that board per the NC General Statues 87-125 (c). North Carolina 811 does not determine what is or is not an emergency notification. Statutes do not address the timeframe in which a facility operator must respond to an Emergency Excavation. Response times are subject to the facility operator’s internal protocols.
Report of Damage The Underground Utility Safety and Damage Prevention Act requires that any excavator performing an excavation or demolition that results in any damage to a facility shall immediately upon discovery of the damage notify North Carolina 811 and the facility operator, if known, and provide the location and nature of the damage. NC811 will create a Report of Damage ticket and send it to any affected utility immediately. A report of damage can be entered anytime including after hours. A Report of Damage is not a locate ticket and cannot be used to get lines located. Also, a Report of Damage does not relieve the excavator from any responsibility regarding the damages. Contact 911 immediately and the facility owner if the damage has resulted in the discharge or electricity, the escape of any flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid, or endangers life, health, or property in accordance with the NC General Statutes.
Destroyed Marks In the event the locate markings have been destroyed, the excavator may request a Destroyed Marks notice as long as the original notice is active and has yet to expire. This notice is resent to all or specific members to request a remark of the area requested on the original notice. As a reminder, the individual is responsible for preserving the markings once the area has been marked. Markings can be destroyed due to weather, grading, heavy traffic, etc.
Design/Survey A design or survey ticket is requested for those responsible for designing underground facilities or those who require a general description and location of existing underground facilities in an area. Since there will be no digging and, therefore, no risk to the underground utilities; the member utilities or their contract locators have 10 full working days to respond to a design/survey ticket instead of the usual 3 full working days.
Three Hour If a facility operator fails to provide the locate status to the NC811 Positive Response System, the excavator may proceed with their excavation if there are no visible indications of a facility at the proposed excavation or demolition area, such as a pole, marker, pedestal, meter, or valve. However, if the excavator is aware of or observes indications of an unmarked facility at the proposed excavation or demolition area, the excavator shall not begin excavation or demolition until an additional notice is made to NC811 detailing the facility and an arrangement is made for the facility to be marked by the facility operator within three hours from the time the additional notice is received by NC811. A three-hour notification can be entered anytime including after hours.
A design or survey ticket is created by request from companies or individuals responsible for designing underground facilities or those who require a general description and location of existing underground facilities in an area. The process of submitting a design/survey ticket is similar to submitting a location request for digging. A ticket can be requested by calling North Carolina 811, Inc. directly at 8-1-1 or by creating a design/survey ticket online through the CENTER LOGiX program. The information needed to complete the design/survey request includes:
Caller Information Company name Address Phone number Contact name
Location Information Address Street name Cross street name
Specific area covered by the design or survey request Since there will be no digging and, therefore, no risk to the underground utilities; the member utilities or their contract locators have 10 full working days to respond to a design/survey ticket instead of the usual 3 full working days. It is recommended you reach out to the phone number listed on the locate to communicate with each member.
This response may include: Designation of the underground facilities in the appropriate APWA color code using paint or flags. Providing operator maintained facility records or the best available description of the underground facility in the proposed design area which may include drawings marked with a scale, dimension, and reference points. Allow person submitting the design notice or any other authorized person to inspect drawing or other records at a location that is acceptable to the operator.
The member facility owner will respond to the design/survey request with one of the below positive response codes: 92 SURVEY DESIGN REQUEST ‐No Facilities in the Area 94 SURVEY DESIGN REQUEST ‐ Facility Records Provided 98 SURVEY DESIGN REQUEST ‐ Access to Facility Records Provided 100 Location request denied due to Homeland Security Concern. Member utility operator needs to confirm legitimacy of the proposed excavation and may need additional information.
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